Fire door



J. Z. --WINDER May' 7, 1929.

FIRE DOOR Filed April 211j 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet WW' /Avj ATTHNEY.

J. Z. WINDER May 7, 1929.

1,711,513 FIRE DOOR Filed April 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 invffuron vPatented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH Z. WINDER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA,VASSIGNOR TO RICHMOND FIREPROOFDOOR COMPANY, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

FIRE DOOR.

Application filed. April 24, 1925. Serial No. 25,633.

My invention relates to a fire door, and more particularly to a swingingdoor particularly adapted for use in closing the door openings in warehouses.

Doors of the general type to which my invention relates include a metalframe usually made of angle metal stock, the inturned flanges of thisframe having firmly secured and fitted thereto a sheet metal plateforming the panel of the door. The. metals of different portions of thedoor vary in thickness, vthe frames being of heavier stock than thepanels, so that when said doors are subjected to high temperatures as inthe case of a fire, lthe door will buckle badly and become so deformedas to make a subsequent opening of the door ditlicult, and its subnsequent use impossible. This condition rcsults mainly from the fact thatthe panel of the door will expand more rapidly and to a greater extent,by reason of its relatively greater surface dimensions, than the heaviermetal angle frame of the door. This is also due in part lto the factthat the bulk of material in the Apanel is relatively less than in thedoor frame.

lll/lith the above conditions in mind, I have provided a fire door whichis so constructed :is to permit the free expansion of the metal of thepanel in all directions without subjecting the frame of the door to anystresses tl'ererrom, while at the same time so reinforcing the doorstructure as to permit the use of fairly light metal stock in the frameand also in the panel without `likelihood of the racking or sagging ofthe door structure through use. The hinge construction is such that theentire weight of the door will be supported so as to distribute the loadthroughout the door structure in a lmanner which will effectivelyrelieve the portion of the door frame adjacent the hinges from eX-cessive strains thereon either from the weight of the door or from itsopening and closing movement, the hinge construction being incorporatedin the reinforcing members.

In the construction of door as herein described, the panel is supportedin relation to the door frame solely by means of friction, thus undernormal conditions preventing looseness or rattling of the panel in theframe, yet permitting a free expansion of the panel in the event of thedoor being subjected to high temperatures as during a fire, with- Theinvention consists primarily in a fire door embodying therein a frame ofangle metal having one flange of each bar thereof directed inwardly'ofthe frame and another flange thereof extending at substantially rightangles thereto to form a rabbeted opening within the frame, a metalpanel plate closing said opening, but of dimensions which will space theedges thereof away from said last named flanges, plates forming withsaid inwardly directed flanges a channel, means securing said plates tosaid frame in a relation to cause the frictional engagement of saidpanel plate between said inwardly directedv fianges and said plates,said means not engaging said panel plate, whereby rattling of said panelplateis prevented, and it is permitted to expandv in all directions whensubjected to high temperatures, and hinge members carried by said frame;and .insuch other novel features of c0n struction and combination ofparts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more` particularlypointed out in the claims hereto appended. l

Referringto the drawings',

Fig. l is an elevation of a door embodying my invention, said door beingbroken `and condensed both laterally and vertically;`

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l through portions of saiddoor only and upon an enlarged scale; y

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the door on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

et is an enlarged detail view showing one of the side rails of the doorin horiaontal section;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified construction of the door;and y Fig. 6 is another similar view showing a still furtherk modifiedconstruction of the frameand panel of the door. v Y 'Like letters referto likevparts throughou the several views. Y V

In the embodiment of my invention shown inthe drawings a, indicates awall of a building having a dooropening therein' at o. This door openingis closed by a fire door embodying my invention, which door' as statedis of the swinging type, fitted within the door opening in a mannerwhich may cause likelihood of the jamming of the door,

in the event of its distortion from expansion in the event or' fireadjacent the door.

The construction shown, includes a metal frame c, formed of an anglemetal bar or bars, one flange e of each bar of the door extendingsubstantially parallel With the Wall ci and flooring Within the dooropening;` Z), and the other angle thereof 02 being directed inwardly ofthe frame to form a. rabbeted opening for the reception of a metal plateci forming the panel of the door.

expansion of the top, bottom and side bz In forming the frame of thedoor, the flanges c2 are 4Ir'nitred to permit the formation of thecorners, it being possible to form this frame Vof one continuous anglebar With the ends Welded together, or of separate bars thus Welded.

rlhe door frame thus described is of a height and width slightly lessthan the door opening o, thus forming a gap about the door When in theclosed position Whieh will compensate for variations in the dimensionsof different door openings, {sul} posed to be of the ,same dimensions)While at the same time affording cle; rance to permit (With certainreinforcingrails to be hereinafter deseribed) Without likelihood oiCausing the jamming oi the 'door in they opening. rlhis gap about thedoor closed against the passage of smoke and i'ire by means of astragalse formed by angleV metal bars, the flanges e of which close sai d gapsand lap the door opening, and the othe. flanges e2 of vvhieh abutagainst, and are permanently secured to, the flange c2 of the door frameproper. Said angle bars e may be secured to the flange c2 by beingWelded thereto, or by being riveted or bolted there to, as desired.

The rbottom bar of theldoor frame prop-- ler is spaced above thethreshold, sill,

sufficiently to permit the use of an astragal formed as described at thebottoni of the door frame, although if desired, the door frame propermay be brought Close to the threshold.

The panel plate Z is of light metal with the two-fold object oflightening` the door structure as much as possible, and reducing thecost of production, rigidity in the door being secured by meansindependent of the panel. This panel has a very loose fit Within therabbet formed by the inwardly directed flange ciY of the door frame, thedim mensions of this panel being such as to eom pletely close theopening in the door frame, but to space the perimeter or edges ofthe thepanel avvay from the flange c2 sufiiciently to permit the maximumexpansion of the metal of the panel when subjected to eX- cessively hightemperatures Without placing the angle bar frame of the door under anystresses as a result of this expansion, and thus avoid distortion of thedoor frame from this cause. lt Will readily be appreciated that with apanel made of light plate metal having the surface dimensions Which apanel of this kind Will have, the panel, in the event of lire, willexpand quickly and to a relatively greater extent than the heavier anglemetal frame. By affording sufficient clearance about all edges of thepanel, and between same and the flange 02 of the frame bars, however,such expansion may occur Without subjecting the frame to any stressesfrom the, panel, and that furthermore, this expansion, when it "occurs,will not result in `he buckling' of the panel itself, however great theexpansion may be, providing of course, that the panel about the edges isnot restrained in any Way either by the frame or by the means securingthe panel within the frame.

lt is nevertheless essential that the panel d be supported withsufficient permaneney to avoid looseness thereof, resulting in ratfling,and yet, this securing means must be so constructed and arranged as topermit the free expansion of the panel in the manner above described.

'ifo secure the panel firmly in position in relation to the frame, lprovide means secured to the frame of the door in a manner flo developsurface pressure upon the panel about and adjaeent its edges to hold thepanel firmly solely by friction, said means and the rabbet forminrflange of the door e5 el thus frmly gripping and holding the panel undernormal conditions, and yet, in the event of fire, offering insufficientresistance to expansion of the metal the panel to cause buckling of thepanel or deformation of the frame. ln this manner the panel is supportedin the doorv iframe solely by friction, which will place no restraintupon the 'free expansion of the panel, and yet will hold it withsufficient firmness to prevent rattling and the presence of gaps betweenthe panel and the frame. ln fact the edge oit the panel is frictionallyheld Within a ehannel formed about the opening in the door frame,

ln the embodiment of the invention shown, means forming the Channelabove referred to, and for frietionally holding the panel d, consists ofaplurality of angle plates or bars anyvdesired number of such plates orof any desired length being used, so long as sufficient friction isdeveloped to hold the panel in the manner above described. @ne flange ofsaid angle plates frietionally engages the panel Z While the otherflange fis seouredto the flange 02 of the frame of the door by beingriveted orbolted thereto, as particularly illustrated in Figs. 3, et and6, or being Welded thereto as shown in Fig. 5. These angle plates orbars do not add materially to the Weight of the door, nor do they haveany material stiftening action, their purpose being solely tfrictionally support the panel with its edges spaced away from theflange c2 of the door frame. i

In referring yto the light structure of the doors, this is merely arelative term, since of necessity doors embodying the invention Willhave considerable Weight particularly as they are designed to closefairly large door openings in `warehouses and are of all metalconstruction. ThereV is in such doors a Weight so distributed thatunlessbraces are provided, there is a great tendency of the door to sag at thepoint-s thereof more re motel from the hinge supports, thus tending torack it not only from this-sagging action but as a result of thefrequent ars resulting from the opening Vand, closing of the door. Toimpart the desired rigidity to the door and avoid the sagging andracking above referred to, While the same time per- ,initting thefriction'al support of the door.

panel for the purposes above described, I provide suitable braces Whichreinforce the frame of the door against sagging and at the sametimeafford rigid carrying meinbers for the hinge socket connected with thedoor and co-operating withY a hinge plateA upon the door jamb. Theconstructionand arrangement of suoli braces is such that they willneither support nor be supported by the door panel d.

In the form of the invention shown these braces consist of a channel.bar g upon one side of the door extending between opposite verticalflanges c', the number of these channels preferably corresponding withthe nume ber of hinges. Upon the other side of the door are hinge straps7L of substantially the same length as the bars g, such bars and suchstraps being firmly riveted or bolted together and to the flanges c ofthe side bars of the door frame. The rivets securing said parts togetherare indicated at i and Where they pass through the panel al, openingsare formed in said panel as indicated at CZ in Figs. l and 2, ofsuliicient size to permit the expansion of the panel cl Without placingany stresses upon said rivets, upon the door frame or upon the panelthrough the bars and straps g and 7i.

The st 1aps ,7L at the opposite ends thereof rest upon the outer face ofthe flanges c upon the side bars of the door and are thus spaced awayfrom the panel Z at this' face of the door. If desired, this spacebetween the panel and the bar may be closed'by a spacer bar y', thethickness of which Will be such that the panel will also be frictionallysupported at each of these braces in addition to the edge thereof.

' Each strap 71, has formed at one end thereof a hinge socket as it',the bar being eX- tended Vbeyond the adjacent side astragal esufficiently to accommodate the hinge socket t secured to the Walladjacent the door openinfr. Y l

It Will be seen that by the use of braces as described, sagging of thedoor Will be prevented, and that if desired additional frictionalsupports for the panel may bepro-y vided.` Particular attention isdirected to the fact that aside from the possible frictional engagementabove referred to, said braces are unconnected with the panel d'.-

By reason of the freedom with which the panel may expand in case offire, the channels gand the straps h are not relied upon tocheclrbuckling of the panel.

To hold the door in the closed position, I provide it with a pluralityof pivoted latch members m connected by a'link mso as to causesimultaneous movement of all of said latch members.

At lea-st one of the latch members m is provided With a guide strap m2,and said latches are simultaneously actuated by a cam n having a handlen.

It is to be noted that the latch members m are all pivotally mountedupon the panel l but are unconnected yin any Way With the door framealthough guided in their movements adjacent the edge of the door, bystraps o. Each latch member m co-operates with a suitable keeper pmounted on the buck or portion of the Wall adjacentthe door opening. Y

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. l to Band 5, the astragals eand the friction platesvf" are shown as being secured in relation to theframe of the door by Ine-ans of Welding.. In Fig. the construction andarrangement of parts is the same as in Figs. l` to l, except that theastragals, friction plate andframe are shown being riveted together. nIn the inodioation shown in Fig. 6, the general construction is the sameas that in the other forms of the inventioin shown, excepting thatinstead of using angle bars in the frame of the door a T-bar is used,thus combining the frame of the door and the astragals in a singleintegral part.

In Fig. `6, the foot of the T-bar is indicated at c3, this footcorresponding Withthe two flanges c2 and e2 of the'other forms of theinvention. One portion'of the head of this flange is indicated at c4,Which portion corresponds with the flange e of the other forms of theinvention. The. other part of this head represented atc5 correspondsWith the flange c. In fact, this lforma-tion of the frame of the'doormerely amounts to the substitution of a unitary` for a two-partstructure as compared with the other forms of the invention.

' From the foregoing` description it Will be apparent that the entireload of the door Will be supported from the hinges through the strapsIt, channel bars g and the angle bars e voftheframe propel' of the door,all

CIL

bers carried by said frame, a plurality of latches pivotally supportedby said panel plate, a link connecting all of said latches, meansoperative upon one of said latches for simultaneously `actuating all ofsaid latches, and keepers upon the wall of the building adjacent thedoor opening and cooperating with said latches respectively.-

5. A lire door embodying therein a frame of angle metal havingone flangeof each bar thereof directed inwardly of the frame and another flangethereof extending at substantially right angles thereto to form arabbeted opening` within the frame, the dimensions of said frame beingless than the opening to be closed by the door whereby a gap is formedbetween said frame and the building about the door opening, a metallpanel plate closing theopening in said frame but of dimensions whichwill space the edges thereof away from said last named flanges, platesforming with said inwardly directed flanges a channel, means securingsaid plates to said frame in a relation to cause the frictionalengagement of said panel plate between saidl flanges and said plates,said means not engaging said panel plate, whereby rattling of said panelplate is prevented and it is permitted to expand in all directions whensubjected to high temperatures, a flange carried by, and extendingoutwardly of said frame, sufficiently to span the gap about same and lapthe building structure about the door opening, and hinge members carriedby said frame.

6. A fire door embodying therein a frame of angle metal .having oneflange of each bar thereof directed inwardly of the frame and anotherflange thereof extending at substantially right angles thereto to form arabbeted opening within the frame, a metal panel plate closing saidopening, but of dimensions which will space lthe edges thereof away fromsaid last named flanges, plates forming with said inwardly directedflanges a channel, means securing said plates to said frame in arelation to cause the frictional engagement of said panel plate betweensaid inwardly directed flanges and said plates,

said means not enga-gine said panel plate, whereby rattling of saidpanelplate is prevented, and it is` permitted to expand in Aalldirections when subjected to high temperatures, ehannelled braces infrictional engagement with said panel plate and engaging the oppositeside bars of said frame,

hinge straps upon the opposite side of the of angle metal having oneflange of eachv bar thereof directed inwardy of the frame and anotherflange thereof extending at substantially right angles thereto to form arabbeted opening within the frame, a metal panel plate closing saidopening, but of di mensions which will space the edges thereof away fromsaid last named flanges, plates forming with said inwardly directedflanges a channel, means securing said plates to said frame in arelation to cause the frietional engagement of said panel plate betweensaid inwardly directed flanges and said plates, said'means not engagingsaid panel plate, whereby rrattling of said panel plate is prevented,and it is permitted to expandin all direct-ions when subjected to hightemperatures, channelled braces in frictional en" gagement with saidpanel plateand engaging the opposite side bars of said frame, hingestraps uponthe opposite side of the door, a filler plate frictionallyengaging said panel plate and between same and` each of said hingestraps, means rigidly securing each of said channelled braces and eachof said hinge straps together, and to the side bars of said frame, saidmeans passing through enlarged openings in said panel plate, and hingemembers carried by said hinge straps respectively.

In witness whereof I h ave hereunto aliixed my signature, this 20th dayof April, 1925.

JOSEPH Z. l/VINDER.

